Automobile-trailer coupling.



A. B. CADMAN.

AUTOMOBiLE TRAILER COUPLING.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 25. |916. l 1,201,222. mented 0@r.10,191b.

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A. B. CADMAN.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. 19H5.

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4 ADDI BENJAMIN CADMAN, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WARNER` MANUFACf TURING COMPANY, OF SOUTH BEI-OIT, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF. ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-TRAILER COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 'oca 10, 1916.

Application filed February 26, 1916. Serial No. 80,581.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, Anni BENJAMIN CAn- MAN, a citizen of theV United States, residing at Beloit, in. the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Trailer Couplings, of which the following is a specification. y

The object of this invention is to produce an improved coupling which is especially adapted for disengageably connecting a trailer cart to an automobile; and the invention aims to provide a ball-a-nd-soeket the automobile being sectioned away to better illustrate the coupling. AFig. 2 is an 'elevational view of the coupling looking at the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the coupling in the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in the plane of line 4 4 of Fig. 2.V Fig. 5 is a section in the same plane as Fig. 4, but showing the parts ofthe coupling disassociated from each other. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal .vertical section in the plane of line 6446 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rear portion of an automobile is indicated by reference numeral 10 and a trailer .cart by numeral 11, the cart having a tongue 12.

The -coupling comprises a ball portion and a socket portion which are preferably attached respectively to the automobile and the trailer, although this arrangement might be reversed. The ball portion comprises, in the present instance, a base or attaching portion 13 and a spherical ball 14 projecting upwardly therefrom. -The base 13 may be secured to the automobile in any suitable way by means of a. U- shaped bar or yoke 15 having its ends secured by clamping means 16 to the rear axle of the automobile,'the base member 13 being rigidly fixed .to the midportion of said yoke. The socket member in its preferred form comprises an attaching portion 17 adapted to be fixed upon the forward end of the tongue 12 and having at its forward end an open frame 18 terminating in a concave socket 19 adapted to lreceive the ball 14.

The ball is arranged tov be securely held in the socket in a manner permitting free relative movement of the two coupling sections in all directions, While at the same time preventing any loose play-.or rattle between said sections. The means for thus securing the ball comprises alever 2.0 pivoted at one end at 21 to oneside of the vopen frame 18, said lever extending horizontally i across the frame and passing through aslot 22 in the opposite side thereof. Between its ends the lever carries 'a spring-pressed member which is preferablylin the formlof a plunger 23 slidableina bore i tlrei'ler, and having a stem 24 passing tirough an opening at one end of said bore.' A coiled compression spring ,25 surroundssaid stem and tends to force the plunger outwardly .to the limit allowed by a stop pin'26 in the Preferably the 'outer 'fend of the plunger head has a concav'"ejrecess Atherein and the surrounding portion'of the lever may be similarly shapedfsoas to coliform to the surface of the ball 14.

'lhe lever is arranged to be secured in operative position 'to hold 'the ball in the socket by latch means which in the preferred form comprises a spring-pressed plunger 2 7 (Fig. 3) sli'dably mounted in a vertically disposed barrel 28 which may be integral withrone side of the frame 18, the plunger having a head 29 fixed on its upper end forming a finger-piece for lifting the' plunger. A coiled spring 30 suijroundingthe plunger within the barrel 28'tends to press the plunger down to the limitallowed by ioo to dieeonner-t the trailer from the antoinebile, the operator grasps the head l? of the. plunger 27 and lifts the plunger ont of engagement 'with the lever E() when Said lever may he. "ang rearwardl;Y to the position Shown in Fig. The tongue. 'l2 of the trailer' may then be :lifted to flisengage tlie sof-.het from the hall 14.

in some of the prior eoniz'ilings ofi this character. a ball-retainingmember has been held in its retaining position by Spring pres .Sure only` My coupling is Superior to suoli a eonstrueton, tor the reason that the lever 2U is positively looked by the plunger detent 27 in the posiitiim to prevent escape of the' ball from the sf.i 'et,^while at 'the same time the Hiring-pressed plunger which iS mounted on the lever for ini'lependent movement, :iets to yieldingly engage the ball to prevent loose play or rattling' of' the parts.

l-Vhile hai-'o herein described in detail the preferred embodiment of .my invention, it Aehould be understood that I do not intend to limit the saine to the exact struct-nre disi-losed, inasmuch as various modifications may he made therein without departing' from ite` essential eliaraeteriStif-s.

The scope of the invention is pointed out iu the appended claims.

l claim as my invention: f 1. An automobile trailer coupling eomprisingr a socket portion adapted to be rigidly' sernred to one vehicle, a ball portion adapted to be mounted onl another vehicle', said ball `pint-mn (comprising an attachingbase i and a ball proper projecting upwardly therefrom, the socket portion comprisi i an open frame adapted to receive the i i through its lower end and having a si'v at one end of the frame to fit the ball, a lever pivoted :it one end to one Sfide of said frame and extending horizontally across the trame adjacent to Said socket-and passing through a, Slot in the' opposite 'side of the frame, a spiing-pieqsed member eari'iel by said lever bet-Ween its ends and arranged to bear against "the 'Dall to hold it snugly in its socket, and a. Spi'ing-pressed latch mounted on one side of the frame and arranged to engage said lever for holding the latter in its operative position,

2. A-nvaiitomobile trailer coupling coinprising a. socketportion adapted to be monnted en one vehicle, a ball portion incl Y aniips'taniling ball proper adapted t., be mounted on vanother Vvehicle, Said e'ielcet portion comprising an open frame a-.viiig a. soeltet proper4 in one end, the traine being adapted to have the ball pass npivarilly through its lower end, a leverV mounted in the frame adjacent to said Seel-:et and earry pro per hold it snugly' in its socket. and disengaee able meaux tor rigidly holding said lever in its operative position.

A i'ehii'le coupling rompriing a socket portion and a. 'nail punition adapted to he. n v:noted on two vehirlesi, respectively, Raid :gni-liet portion haring; a socket proper at one .end and having),` an open lower side to Vpermit the ball to par@ into and out oll said saoeltet, a movably-monnted ball-retanung dei'ire carried by the socket portion opposite to the socket proper and comprising a hall` Y engaging portion which iS yieldable with relation to the. ren'iainder of the device` said dei-'ire being adapted to prevent aiei'dentzil disengagement oi` the ball from the socket. and means for positively looking said deriee in its hall-retaining position.

4. A vehicle coupling comprising a ball portion, a soeltetportimi, a lever pivoted at one end on the-socket pi'irtion, av springpresxed member carriedl by saidv lever and arranged to engage the ball, and Spring-- preesed lateh means arranged `to rigidly" hold the lever in position to prevent escape of the ball from the socket.

A vehicle coupling' Comprising a ball nien'iher having an attaching' portion and a ball proper prejectingr upwardly therefrom,

:i socket portion havinga Socket proper at one end and having an open lower Sideto permit the ball'to be lpurified into and olit of :issoeiatioii with the socket proper, afbiil1- retaining member inovably mounted on the ,wol-kot portieri opposite to the Socket proper, a Syning-preesed plunger carried by said member and adapted' to engage the ball, and

means for positively/looking said member to the socket toprevent escapeofv tliffbalhjv mounted ony the socket for holdingT the ball in ilaee means for iividl 'holdinor said member in operative position, and Springh.

pressedn'ieans mounted for independent movement on said member andarranged to direetly engage the ball to prevent rattlino. ln testimony whereof, I hereunto set my handA Al) Dl BENJ li-"f' @ADM A N. ln the presence ofi T. R. lliiiirnii, lnx luvlvfiun. 

